NAU Current Policy Academic Continuation, Graduate
Policy Number: 100319
June 11, 2012
Category: Academic » Enrollment
Policy
Academic Continuation relates to a student’s eligibility to continue attending the university, in this
case by meeting pre-established standards of performance—and to remain in a particular program or
to maintain the same status, e.g., graduate student.
Graduate students working toward a graduate degree or certificate must maintain a 3.0 grade point
average (GPA) for all courses taken and for all courses required in their plan. Additionally, the
number of units of “C” grades are strictly limited.
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No more than 6 units of "C" grades can be counted toward a master's or doctoral degree.
No more than 3 units of "C" grades can be counted toward a graduate certificate.
A grade below "C" does not earn graduate credit.
A graduate student with a GPA below 3.0 is placed on probation. Students who accrue more than 6
units of graduate work with a grade of "C" or below cannot continue in a master's or doctoral plan,
regardless of their overall grade point average.
Admission to a graduate program may be revoked for any graduate student who receives
unsatisfactory grades (lower than two grades of “C”).
Non-degree graduate students may continue as graduate students as long as they maintain a
cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Proposed Graduate College Probation, Disqualification, and Dismissal Policy
Good Academic Standing
Good academic standing means that a student is eligible to continue in or to return to the university. Good
academic standing is demonstrated by
 Maintaining a 3.00 grade point average for all courses taken and for all courses required in the
program of study
 Meeting their department’s academic progress criteria toward degree completion, including (but not
limited to):
o Making satisfactory progress, including progress in research, and completing the program in a
timely fashion
o Passing graduate preliminary or final examinations
o Other requirements specified in departmental handbook for graduate students.
In addition, the following criteria must also be met:
 No more than 6 units of "C" grades toward a master’s or doctoral degree
 No more than 3 units of "C" grades can be counted toward a graduate certificate.
 D and F grades do not earn graduate credit.
Degree-Seeking Graduate Students: Probation and Disqualification
Graduate students who have less than a cumulative 3.00 grade point average (GPA) or who have more than 6
units of graduate work with a grade of "C" or below are placed on academic probation.
If a student fails to meet other, non-grade related departmental standards as specified in the department’s
graduate student handbook, the department may initiate probation by informing the student in writing of
specific deficiencies leading to probation with a copy to the Graduate College.
Students on probation have a hold placed on their registration and are required to meet with their major
advisor, discuss the steps necessary to remediate the problems that led to probation, and devise a written
action plan to be submitted to the department chair and the Graduate College, and upon approval of the
written plan, the hold is removed.
Students who have been on probation for two consecutive semesters will be disqualified from their degree
program which results in the student being blocked from registration and subject to dismissal. The student's
department may petition for a one-semester extension of probation if the faculty believes that the student
has a high probability of returning to good academic standing within an additional semester.
Disqualified students may apply for a different program or for non-degree status which allows them to
continue taking graduate courses as non-degree seeking students.
Programs must seek approval from the University Graduate Committee if the criteria set for academic
standing, probation or dismissal differs from the established policy.
Failure to Meet Terms of Conditional Admission
Conditionally admitted graduate students who fail to complete all admission requirements and remove all
deficiencies noted in their admission letter will be disqualified from their degree program which results in the
student being blocked from registration and subject to dismissal. The student's department may petition for a
one-semester extension of conditional status if the faculty believes that the student has a high probability of
meeting the terms of conditional admission within an additional semester.
Disqualified students may apply for a different program or for non-degree status which allows them to
continue taking graduate courses as non-degree seeking students.
Dismissal for Academic Reasons
The decision to dismiss is a collaborative process between the program and the Graduate College. Following
disqualification, if a student is unable to return to good academic standing or has not met the terms of
conditional admission specified in the admission letter, the department may initiate academic dismissal by
notifying the student in writing of the program’s intent to recommend dismissal. The student must be given an
opportunity to present any evidence that the student thinks may influence the decision. Evidence presented
by the student must be reviewed by the department before a final recommendation is forwarded to the
Graduate College, along with departmental review materials and any materials submitted by the student. The
Graduate College sends the final notification of dismissal from the academic program to the student along
with the appeal process.
Request for Readmission after Dismissal from a Graduate Program:
A student may be readmitted to a program only once following dismissal from that program. A student must
contact the Graduate College in writing to request readmission after dismissal from a program. A request for
readmission after dismissal from the program will be evaluated by program faculty, taking into account the
student’s potential for improved performance in the program. The department head or designee will inform
the Graduate College of the decision to approve or deny the student’s request for readmission and the
Graduate College will notify the student of the readmission decision. Approval of readmission may be
accompanied by additional requirements. Upon readmission the student must meet all requirements under
the catalog in effect at the time of his/her readmission unless the program requires the student to meet the
requirements of a previous catalog.
Students applying for readmission to the same degree program within one year of dismissal must achieve a
cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on at least 9 units of additional graduate course work in nondegree status or
at another university and include a detailed plan for success. A readmission request must be supported by the
head of the department and approved by the Graduate College. There is no guarantee of readmission.
Academic Standing and Disqualification: Non-degree Graduate Students
Non-degree graduate students may continue to take courses as long as they maintain a cumulative grade
point average of 2.5. A grade point average lower than 2.5 disqualifies non-degree graduate students from
taking courses. The student may petition for a one-semester extension directly to the Graduate College if the
student thinks there is a high probability of returning to good academic standing within an additional
semester.
Appeal
Graduate students at NAU have the right to appeal academic probation or dismissal decisions using the
Graduate College Academic Appeal Process.
Academic or Research Misconduct/Illegal, Fraudulent, or Unethical Behavior
The process for dismissing students as a result of academic or research misconduct; or as a result of illegal,
fraudulent, or unethical behavior is outlined in the University’s Student Handbook.
Related Policies
Continuous Enrollment, Graduate
Academic Integrity (Dishonesty) Policy
Requirements for Master’s Degrees
Requirements for Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.P.T, D.N.P.)
Requirements for Theses and Dissertations
Petitions for Exceptions, Non-Grade-Related, Graduate